HARBOUR DUES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1929, Page 10

HARBOUR DUES.

PAYMENT BY' GOVERNMENT

DISCUSSION BY CONFERENCE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, 30. The eleventh conference of the Harbours Association of New Zealand, which opened here to-day, made excellent progress with its business. More than 70 remits were dealt with, many of them touching on important matters, but none of them appearing to rouse any sharp diversion of opinion.

Probably the most important of the resolutions were those dealing with the relations between the Government and harbour boards.

A proposal that “all goods consigned |to and the property; of the New Zealand i Government or consigned to any person or firm who is under contract "with the Government for the supply of goods or the erection of 'building or plant, and intended for any national work, plant or installation shall be subject to wharfage dues ’ ' was brought forward by Mr J. ft. Hayward, of the Lyttelton Harbour Hoard.

The chairman of the conference, Mr If. It. MacKeuzie, Auckland, moved as an amendment that the Government be asked to pass an amendment to the Harbours Act providing that Government ships or goods should pay all charges in respect of works provided by or services rendered by servants of beards, that is, berthage, wharfage, dock and ship dues, but not port dues, which last were charged in respect of the natural advantage of the ha'rbour. The amendment was carried.

A remit declaring that Government nominees on harbour boards in districts were rates were collected and no Government grant was made were wrong in principle and ought to be abolished was submitted by Mr A. II!. Jull, chairman of the Napier Harbour Board. On a show of hands being taken the motion was declared carried by 22 votes to 21.

The conference expressed the opinion that all Government-owned trading steamers should pay ordinary harbour dues.

Three remits proposing alterations in the existing franchise for the election of boards were rejected by the conference. i

A remit from the Auckland board providing for the holding of the board's annual meeting early in December instead of March was adopted. The conference agreed to ask for legislation prohibiting tliei employment of aliens as harbourmasteers or officials of harbour boards.

An Otago remit that vessels engaged in the whale fisheries should not be exempt from dues was approved.